Plastic linkage having detachable links



Oct. 1, 1957 A. R. WILLS 2,807,928

' I PLASTIC LINKAGE HAVING DETACHABLE LINKS Filed Dec. 17, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE N TOR rffnlou? koEeT BY WILLS ATTORNEY Oct. 1, 1957 A. R. WILLS 2,807,928

PLASTIC LINKAGE HAVING DETACHABLE LINKS Filed Dec. 1'7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.7.

ATTORN Y Oct. 1, 1957 A. R. WILLS 2,807,928

PLASTIC LINKAGE HAVING DETACHABLE LINKS Filed Dec. 17, 1956 :5 Sheets-Sheet s Figlg.

' INVENTOE ATTORNEY United States Patent C PLASTIC LINKAGE HAVING DETACHABLE LINKS Arnold Robert Wills, Uppingham, Rutland, England, as-

signor to Les-Go Mfg. Co., Inc., a corporation of New York Application December 17, 1956, Serial No. 628,939

11 Claims. (Cl. 59--80) This invention appertains to belts for personal wear, which expression is used in a generic sense and is in,- tended to include bracelets or any other appropriate ornamental belt-like articles or bands adapted to be worn on the person.

Thus, although it is principally the intention to apply the invention to ladies fashion belts, for wear over and around dresses, blouses, skirts and the like, there is no limitation in this respect.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved belt for personal wear which is made in initially separate and cheaply produced component's adapted to be readily interengaged and secured together, as will be hereinafter described.

Arising from this, another object is to provide initially separate and interengageable belt components produced in a wide variety of stylised floral and other decorative designs which can be selected at will for assembly into attractive belts of different and variable forms.

Another object is to provide such a belt which does not require to be furnished with a buckle or any special fastener whereby the ends of the belt can be secured together and relativelyadjusted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a belt for personal Wear the effective length of which can be readily increased ordecreased by the-simple addition thereto or subtraction therefrom of one or more initially separate components. v

According to this invention each of a concatenation of initially separate but interengaged components constitutingabelt as hereinbefore defined has formed therein a shallow socket having a slotted bottom and is provided with a plug adapted to be inserted through the slot in the bottom of, and engaged and retained in, the socket of the next adjoining component.

The improved belt accordingly consists of a longitudinal series'or chain of unitary components which are concatenated by plug-and-socket connections. Thus, the desired endless form of the belt, produced by fastening together itsinitially free ends, can be achieved by the simple expedient or. engaging the plug on the component at one end of the longitudinal series in'the socket in the component at the opposite :end of said series. Moreover, by disconnecting one or more of the unitary components from either end ofthe series, the belt can be reduced in length whereas, conversely, by linking one or more additional components to the chain the effective length of the belt canbeincre'ased, according to the requirements of the wearer. i l p In a convenient embodiment of the invention, the slot formed in the bottom --of the socket in each unitary belt component extends longitudinally with respect to and along the median line of the belt, and the plug with which each such component is provided is connected with the latter by means of a longitudinally extending tab disposed in line with the said slot.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, applicable especially incases where the sockets and plugs are "ice circular in shape, the back of each unitary belt component may advantageously be provided with checks which flank the opposite sides of the corresponding slot in the bottom of the socket of that component and are arranged to accommodate between them the connecting tab of a plug inserted into the said socket. The idea is, therefore, to provide, upon each component, opposing surfaces which, by engagement with opposite sides of the tab of the next adjoining component, will prevent relative angular displacement of the said two components.

According to a further feature, the components are self-retaining when interengaged. Conveniently for this purpose there may be provided in conjunction with each plug a latching formation adapted, as the plug is pressed into a socket, to engage behind a portion of the relevant component adjacent to the slot in the bottom of that socket. Preferably, the latching formations or/and at least the socketed portions of the unitary components are resilient and temporarily deformable under pressure so that as a plug is pressed into a socket the corresponding latching formation or/and the wall of the said socket deforms or deform to permit of ready engagement and disengagement of the latching formation into and from its operative position respectively.

Thus, as will be appreciated, to engage and retain a plug in a socket for the purpose of linking together two of the unitary components, one of the components is first manipulated to present its plug edgewise to the slot in the bottom of the socket in the other component, whereupon the plug is inserted through the slot from the back to the front of the last mentioned component. Next, the first mentioned component is turned through approximately a right angle to position the inserted plug for engagement in the socket, then the first mentioned component is tilted forwardly towards the plane occupied by the second mentioned component, and finally the plug is pressed into the socket as a consequence of which the latching formation snaps into position. Disengagement of the plug from the socket is, of course, effected in the reverse manner.

It is primarily the intention to make the components of the improved belt in a tough, resilient plastic material. For example, the components may be injection moulded, each in one piece, in a thermoplastic such as polythene or polyvinyl chloride.

The invention includes not only an individual 'belt component of the general character herein described, but also a belt for personal wear comprising a concatenation of such components.

The foregoing and other features of the invention so far broadly described will now be set forthin greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

b 1Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the improved Figures 2, 3 and 4 are front, back and edge views respectively of one of the belt components per se,.

Figures 5 and 6 are transverse and longitudinal sectional views of the said component taken on the lines VV and VIVI of Figures 2 and 3 respectively,

Figure 7 is a front view of two of the components shown in interengaged relation,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line VIII--VIII of Figure 7,

Figure 9 .is a detail sectional view of fragments of a plug and a complementary socketted portion of a cornponent and illustrates the manner in which the locking formation functions to retain these parts together,

Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views depicting two successive stages in the interengagement of one component with another,

Figure 12-is a detail sectional view showing the posi- 3 tion of a plug in relation to a corresponding socket immediately prior to the plug being pressed home, and

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 2 and illustrating, merely by way of example, a further ornamental design of the components.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the endless belt B therein illustrated comprises a plurality of individual components C which are linked together chainwise. Each of these initially separate components C is injection moulded in a flexible thermoplastic material and, as exemplified by the particular component shown in Figures 2-6, comprises a substantially circular and thin disc-like body 1 in the centre of which is formed a shallow, concentric socket 2. The depth of the socket 2 is equivalent to the thickness of the body 1. The back of this body is mainly fiat and plane whilst the front thereof is suitably moulded with ridges, ribs or/and apertures to present geometric or floral design of an attractive ornamental character. The bottom of the socket 2, which is slotted at 3, is constituted by the fiat outer surfaces 411 of two segmental shaped cheeks 4 moulded integrally with, and protruding from, the plane back of the body 1. The checks 4 are spaced apart at opposite sides of a diameter of the body 1 and their opposed parallel and chordwise extending edges 4b define the opposite sides of the slot 3. The opposite ends of the said slot are constituted by diametrally opposite portions of the wall of the socket 2. Thus, apart from having slightly outwardly curved ends, the slot 3 is mainly rectangular, its longitudinal median line being coincident with the aforementioned diameter of the body 1. As shown in Figures 3 and the outer arcuate edges 4c of the rearwardly protuberant cheeks 4 are bevelled. Also moulded integrally with, and extending radially from the periphery of, the said body is a thin, parallel-sided tab 5 the width of which is very slightly less than the width w of the slot 3 (see Figure 3). The longitudinal median line of the tab 5 is coincident with that of the slot 3. Moulded on the front or outer face of the tab 5 is a circular plug 6 of a diameter d approximately the same as the diameter d of the socket 2 and such as to enable the said plug to be inserted and received snugly in the socket of the next adjoining component of a belt. As shown more clearly in Figure 6, the outer face of the plug 6 is made slightly concave and, at its periphery, the plug is of a thickness corresponding to the depth of the socket 2. The free outer end So of the tab 5 extends a little beyond the plug 6 suchwise as to provide a locking formation in the nature of a protruding lip which is bevelled at the back as indicated at 5b. The outer edge of the lip is arcuate and extends parallel with the periphery of the associated plug 6. The relative thinness and tapered sectional form of the lip 5a, resulting by virtue of its being bevelled, added to the inherent flexibility and resilience of the plastic material of which the component C is moulded enables the lip to be readily and temporarily deformed. As a consequence, when a plug 6 of one component is inserted and pressed home into a socket 2 of an adjoining component the lip 5:: associated with that plug yields, as also does the adjacent portion of the wall of the said socket, suchwise as to enable the lip to pass through the latter and thereupon react to spring into looking position at the back of the body 1 of the relevant com ponent as shown in Figure 9.

The distance a (Figure 3) between the centre of the circular socket 2 and the centre of the plug 6 is the same in respect of each component C, and this distance is so related to the diameter of the disc-like bodies 1 that, in a complete belt such as that illustrated at B in Figure l, the components C slightly overlap one another.

Two of the components C and C are shown in interengaged relation in Figures 7 and 8. As will be noted, the leading end portion of the tab 5 which adjoins the locking lip 5a and carries the plug 6 of the component C is located between the straight chordwise extending edges 4b of the checks on the adjoining component C. In this way the components C and C are maintained in line and prevented from turning angularly relatively to one another.

The manner in which a component C is interengaged and locked with another (0) is depicted in Figures 10, 11 and 12. First, the component C is taken between the thumb and fingers of one hand and the component C is similarly taken between the thumb and fingers of the other hand. Then, with the component C held in a plane substantially at right angles to the component C and with the plug 6 of the component C disposed edgewise with respect to the slot 3 in the bottom of the socket 2 of the component C, the said plug is pushed through the slot as shown in Figure 10. Next, the component C is turned through and drawn back, as shown in full lines in Figure 11, whereupon the body 1 of the component C is tilted suchwise as to move the plug 6 partially into the socket 2 as shown more clearly in Figure 12. Finally, the plug 6 is pressed back more fully into the socket so that the lip 5a engages behind the body 1 of the component C (Figure 9).

The bodies of the components may be variously ornamented and coloured to present a wide variety of difierent geometrical and floral designs. In fact, in one and the same belt, components of two or more different designs may be incorporated. This is exemplified in Figure 1, wherein the belt B embodies components of two designs arranged in alternating relation.

Yet another form of component is shown, merely by way of example, in Figure 13.

I claim:

1. A component for incorporation in a belt constituted by a concatenation of such components formed completely of an injection molded resilient thermoplastic material, comprising a thin body having formed therein a shallow socket with a bottom in which there is provided a slot, a thin plug of the same shape and size as the said socket, a tab which extends in alignment with the said slot and connects the plug with the body, said plug being spaced from the body in the direction of the length of the slot, and a locking formation associated with the plug consisting of a short bevelled resilient lip serving as a locking member and snapping past the end of said socket to lock the assembly in position.

2. A component formed completely of an injection molded resilient thermoplastic material, for assembly with other like components to form a belt, comprising a thin disc-like body having formed therein a central shallow socket with a bottom in which there is provided a slot disposed with its median line coincident with a diameter of the body, a thin plug of the same shape and size as the said socket, a parallel-sided tab which carries the plug and extends radially from the back of the disc-like body in alignment with the aforesaid slot so that the plug is spaced from the body in the direction of the length of the slot, and a resilient locking formation which is provided on the free end of the tab and protrudes beyond the plug consisting of a short bevelled resilient lip serving as a locking member and snapping past the end of said socket to lock the assembly in position.

3. A component for assembly with other like components to form a belt, comprising a thin disc-like body having formed concentrically therein a circular aperture, a pair of opposed segmental and protuberant checks which are provided at the back of the body and are so disposed across the aperture as to convert the latter into a shallow socket with a bottom in which there is a slot, the longitudinal sides of said slot being parallel and defined by straight chordwise extending edges of the said opposed segmental cheeks, a thin circular plug of approximately the same diameter as the socket, a parallel-sided tab of a width slightly less than that of the slot, said tab carrying the plug and extending radially from the back of the disc-like body in alignment with the said slot whereby the plug is spaced radially from the body, and a resilient latching formation which is provided at the free end of the tab and protrudes from the back of the plug consisting of a short bevelled resilient lip serving as a locking member and snapping past the end of said socket to lock the assembly in position.

4. A belt component according to claim 3, which is injection moulded in one piece in a flexible and resilient thermoplastic material.

5. A belt component according to claim 3, wherein the latching formation is constituted vby a resilient and bevelled protruding lip the outer edge of which is arcuate and extends parallel with the periphery of the associated circular plug.

6. A belt component according to claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the plug is concave, and the thickness of the plug at its periphery approximates the depth of the shallow socket.

7. A belt component according to claim 3, wherein the back of the disc-like body is mainly flat and the front thereof is so formed as to present an ornamental design.

8. A belt formed completely of an injection molded re- I silient thermoplastic material, consisting of a concatenation of initially separate unitary components each comprising a thin body having formed therein a shallow socket in the bottom of which there is provided a slot; a thin plug of the same shape and size as the said socket; a tab which extends in alignment with the said slot and connects the plug with the body, said plug being spaced from the body in the direction of the length of the belt; and a resilient locking v formation associated with the plug, the plug of each of said components, following insertion thereof edgewise through the slot of the next adjoining component, being located in the socket of said component, and the resilient locking formations engaging the backs of relevant component bodies suchwise as to retain the plugs in the sockets consisting of a short bevelled resilient lip serving as a lockingmember and snapping past the end of said socket to lock the assembly in position.

9. A belt consisting of a concatenation of initially separate unitary components each comprising a thin disc-like body having formed concentrically therein a circular aperture, a pair of opposed segmental and protuberant checks which are provided at the back of the body and are so disposed lacross the aperture as to convert the latter into a shallow socket with a bottom in which there is a slot, the longitudinal sides of said slot being parallel and defined by straight chordwise extending edges of the said opposed segmental cheeks, a thin circular plug of approximately the same diameter as the socket, a parallel-sided tab of a width slightly less than that of the slot, said tab carrying the plug and extending radially from the back of the disc-like body in alignment with the said slot whereby the plug is spaced radially from the body, and a resilient latching formation which is provided at the free end of the tab and protrudes from the back of the plug, the plug of each component, following insertion thereof edgewise through the slot of the next adjoining component, being located in the socket of said component with the tab carrying said plug located between the straight chordwise extending edges of the segmental cheeks protruding from the back of the body of the last mentioned component, and the resilient latching formations at the ends of the tabs engaging the backs of the relevant component bodies suchwise as to retain the plugs in the sockets.

10. A belt according to claim 9 wherein the components are moulded in a flexible thermoplastic.

11. A belt structure formed of separable elements formed completely of an injection molded resilient thermm plastic material, each having at one end a male disk member with a bevelled edge resilient locking lip at the outer end of the male element and a female element at the other end connected to the male element by a flexible strap, the female member having a shallow circular recess with a central elongated slot in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the element and said slot at its outer end being latched to the next element by said resilient lip engaging the end of said slot and said male disk member positioned in said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

